Send healing

The world is wracked and wretched - torn apart by wars, forest fires and other manifestations of a lack of love. In times like these, maybe one of the best things to do is send good thoughts. Collective good thoughts. Thoughts of peace and healing.

I came across Healer's Journey Into Light in the 1990s. I loved it so much I bought multiple copies for all my friends. And is typical of that time, someone borrowed the book off me and never returned it. And I couldn't find it again.

I found a copy on Google Books a couple of years ago. One unique thing about this book was that the author, Lorna Todd included guided meditations at the end of each chapter. I thought this one was particular apposite for these times. So I'm sharing it here with you.

The Candle Flame

Sit in a comfortable straight-backed chair with your spine erect. Let your hands lie softly in your lap with palms upwards. Relax and be at peace. For a little while, forget all your troubles and problems, just enjoy the short journey you are about to take into the realms of light. Close your eyes and breathe a little deeper.

Use your imagination and see with your inner vision a path in front of you leading into a wood. As you start to walk along this path be aware of the beauty of the trees on either side of you.

Magnificent oaks, elms and beech trees are spreading their branches above your head to make an archway over the path. It is a beautiful sunny day and the light from the sun is glinting through the trees. On the ground around the trees you will see spring flowers, clumps of daffodils, violets and primroses. Pause for a moment and listen to the song of the birds. Is that a blackbird or a nightingale that you can hear? For a moment, glimpse the small wild animals of this wood; rabbits, squirrels, field mice and hedgehogs. Do you see that a mole has appeared, poking his large paws out from a pile of soil?

The animals are not afraid of you, for here they only live with light and love. Continue your journey until you come to the end of the trees, in front of you, a short distance away, you will see a small hill. Keep walking along your path, climbing slightly until you come to a tiny cave let into the hillside. The interior is not dark, but appears to be lit by all the various shades of the spectrum.

Step through the opening and look around the walls where the crystals of many shapes and sizes are inlaid. This is where the colours are streaming from, so stand in the centre of the cave and become immersed in the beauty of their radiance.

In front of you is a golden altar, on the top of which burns a small white candle. Kneel at the altar and gaze at the glowing flame. As you look into the light you will become aware that it is expanding and growing. The cavern represents the beauty of your own heart and the flame from the candle is the spark of God - the love of God which is in all men. Can you ever be angry again, or jealous of anybody, when you look at the pure wonder of your own temple.

As you watch the blaze from the white candle grow, it is as if your heart is also opening and widening. Just like the ripples of a pond, the waves from the flame in your own heart centre are spreading outwards, leaving the cavern and reaching out into the world. Send this light to any part of the globe that you perceive to be in trouble, enfolding and cradling them in this love. Before you leave your temple, pause for a while, and give thanks to our Creator for the glorious gift that has flown from you onto the planet Earth.

The vision of the altar and cavern slowly begins to fade and as you turn away from the hill you find yourself once more on the path, which leads you back into the wood. Take your time as you walk through the trees, halting for a moment to look at the beauty around you. Breathe deeply of the pure fresh air inhaling the wondrous scent from the spring flowers.

When you are ready, become aware of your chair, feel the seat beneath you and the floor under your feet. Bring the love and peace back with you into your physical life.

Remember that you can return to the cave at any time you wish; it is part of you and can be made more beautiful each time you visit it.

Before you open your eyes, imagine that a large cross of light is surrounding and enfolding your whole body. This is God's protection as you come back into the reality of your everyday life.